Skip to main content

‘Men in Black International’: Everything we know about the new MiB movie

Upcoming MiB spinoff movie will be titled 'Men in Black International'

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Talk of a Men in Black reboot has circulated around Hollywood for years, and there were even rumors of a possible crossover project involving the crew from the 21 Jump Street movie from 2012. While the crossover film seems to have stalled out, we do have an update on the franchise-reviving Men in Black International movie, which was recently given its official title.

More Movie News Roundups

The new film is expected to be set within the universe of the original trilogy, but feature a new cast and adventures outside the U.S., where all three of the prior films were set.

With Men in Black International scheduled to hit theaters in 2019, here’s everything we know about the movie so far.

  • Title: Men in Black International
  • Release date: June 14, 2019
  • Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson, Rebecca Ferguson, Emma Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani
  • Director: F. Gary Gray

The title

The official title of the film was finally revealed in December, but not by the studio. During CCXP, Brazil’s largest comic convention, Collider spotted Sony Pictures’ booth for the film, which featured the title Men in Black International.

The official Twitter account for the franchise was later updated to feature the logo for the movie.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The cast

Marvel Studios franchise star Chris Hemsworth (below) will reunite with Thor: Ragnarok actress Tessa Thompson in the film’s lead roles, with Taken star Liam Neeson also attached to play a key role in the film. During production, Hemsworth posted a series of photos from the set of the film on Instagram and Twitter featuring himself and Thompson (as well as other members of the cast and crew) in some of the international locations where filming took place.

That’s a wrap on #MIB for me! From London to Morocco to Italy and NYC. Thanks to all the fantastic cast and crew who took part on this epic journey and our director F.Gary Gray, cheers for the fun times, big laughs and solid memories. Can’t wait to show what we’ve put together. pic.twitter.com/Y2CFbPA6A1

— Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) October 17, 2018

The only returning character announced will be Agent O, the head of the American branch of the Men in Black organization, who was portrayed by Emma Thompson in Men in Black III. Thompson will reprise her role in some form for the reboot, providing some continuity between the prior trilogy and the new film.

Just before filming was expected to begin on the movie, several additions to the cast were reported. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom actor Rafe Spall, Oscar-nominated The Big Sick actor Kumail Nanjiani, and street-dancing duo Laurent Nicolas Bourgeois and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois (aka Les Twins) were all added to the cast.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In August, Mission: Impossible – Fallout actress Rebecca Ferguson (pictured above) also joined the project in an unspecified role, but is rumored to be playing the film’s villain.

The story

Official plot details are scarce, but Men in Black International is expected to feature a new cast of characters existing within the same universe as the first three Men in Black films, but expanding the story’s focus globally. The initial film will reportedly be centered on London, but will also feature action unfolding elsewhere around the world. Neeson is rumored to be playing the head of the U.K. branch of the alien-investigating agency, similar to the role Rip Torn played as part of the American agency featured in the earlier films.

20th Century Studios

The script for the Men in Black spinoff is penned by Iron Man writers Matt Holloway and Art Marcum.

The director

Each installment of the original trilogy of Men in Black movies was helmed by Barry Sonnenfeld, but the new film will have a new face behind the camera, too. The spinoff is set to be directed by Friday and Fate of the Furious director F. Gary Gray, who joined the project in February 2018.

The legacy

Original franchise stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones aren’t expected to appear in the film, but original franchise producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will oversee the project along with executive producer Steven Spielberg, who served a similar role on all three of the prior films.

Men in Black Image used with permission by copyright holder

Despite mixed reviews for 2012’s Men in Black 3, the Men in Black series is undoubtedly a lucrative proposition, as the first film (released in 1997) grossed nearly $600 million, while the first sequel (2002) reached nearly $500 million.

Updated on December 6, 2018: Added photos and official title for the film.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
10 best stop-motion animated movies of all time, ranked
Coraline crawls through a dark tunnel.

Stop-motion animation is one of the most creative and beloved subgenres -- and it only seems to get better with time. The greatest movies in this category showcase the hard work and artistry of the inventive minds behind these stories, which often take a long time to commit to film. Each frame is a painstakingly crafted work of art, all aimed at creating immersive worlds full of unforgettable narratives and characters.

From obscure modern classics like The Wolf House to genre-defining masterpieces like The Nightmare Before Christmas, the best stop-motion animated movies highlight the full potential of the medium to deliver complex stories alongside gorgeous and distinct visuals. The craftmanship on display in these films is a testament to the power of animation and those who boldly push the genre's boundaries to create enchanting realities.
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Read more
The 50 best anime on Hulu right now
Gintama anime key art featuring Gintoki leading the supporting cast of the series.

Even when it's not the primary destination, Hulu is still easily among the best mainstream platforms to stream some of the best anime available. It's an especially great supplement for audiences already fans of the streamer's live-action originals, boasting impressive diversity in its anime offerings across film, TV, and various genres.

For customers who aren't subscribed, the Disney Bundle is more than worth consideration to back up Hulu's anime library. This package deal gives viewers countless hours of content through Disney+, ESPN+, and the base ad-supported Hulu plan. Fans will have access to all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content they could hope for on top of Hulu's anime catalog.

Read more
Nuggets vs Mavericks live stream: Can you watch for free?
Nikola Jokic squares up a free throw on the court.

Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks take on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets today. Playoff seeding implications aside, it's always a must-watch event whenever two of the greatest international players of all-time do battle.

This one is set to start in about one hour, at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC in the United States. If you don't have cable or you're looking to finally cut the cable cord, there are a bunch of different ways you can watch a live stream of the game online.
The Best Way to Watch the Nuggets vs Mavericks Live Stream

Read more